Best Smart City Related Telecommunication Innovations

Do you live in a smart city? What exactly is a smart city? That answer is hard to define, according to Computer World, because there are many definitions, but it generally includes using sensors and video for law enforcement or to control utilities.

“A smart city shouldn’t just save money, but should also be attractive and fun to live in,” said Carl Piva, vice president of strategic programs at TM Forum, told Computer World.

Smart technology goes hand in hand with the Internet of Things, devices that are connected to the cloud. According to research firm IDC, the Internet of Things market will be valued at $1.46 trillion by 2020, reports Network World.

The following companies are innovators in smart city and Internet of Things technology.

Intel

A computer-components manufacturer seeking to produce the hardware that runs the Internet of Things.

General Electric

Cisco Systems

1. Intel

“In a world of connected devices, all those gadgets are going to need processor chips. Intel wants to be the company supplying silicon for the Internet of Everything.” – Network World

Founded in 1968, Intel is a world leader in silicon innovations and technologies. Headquartered in Santa Carla, CA, it was named the 43rd most admired company in the world for 2016 by Fortune. Products Intel manufactures include software, processors, computer chips, and servers.

The most promising sector in the Internet of Things is transportation, according to Intel. This sector will improve traffic efficiency and automobile safety, and will tackle infrastructure issues. The Internet of Things also will play a large role in emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles.

Diane Bryant, Intel executive vice president and general manager of the Data Center Group, said at the Bloomberg Technology Conference in June 2016 about the growth of emerging technology markets, “The third big wave that is going to drive compute [sic] is all the things – so connected cars, smart cities and smart grids and distributed health care and drones and robots. It just goes on and on and on. You’re talking billions and billions of devices that will dwarf what we know today from a connected world.”

Despite moving into the Internet of Things sector, Intel is still the world’s largest microprocessor manufacturer with an 80% market share, according to Edward Jones. In 2016, the company is expected to grow 5%. However, the market is nearing maturation, and growth in other sectors has been slow.

Currently, the Internet of Things accounts for less than 5% of Intel’s total revenue, according to Edward Jones, but Intel expects it to grow. Globally, technology spending is forecasted to increase 4% annually and reach $2.5 trillion in 2018.

In 2015, revenue was $55.4 billion, according to Argus, and was forecasted to increase 2% to 3% during the second quarter of 2016.

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2. General Electric

Founded in 1878, General Electric, commonly called GE, is headquartered in Fairfield, CT. It began as an electric company, but has moved into other sectors including transportation, healthcare, aviation and appliances. According to Network World, GE coined the term “Industrial Internet of Things”.

GE has partnered with eight other companies, including Intel, for Ecomagination 2020, an initiative aimed at solving the world’s water and energy problems.

GE was named the No. 10 most admired company in the world for 2016, by Fortune.

Over the next five years, GE is forecasted to grow 10.5% annually. Earnings for 2016 are expected to grow 14.5%, according to Nasdaq.

According to a GE conference call, revenue during the first quarter of 2016 increased 6% year-over-year. The Power business grew the most at 21%. Five percent growth was forecasted for the second quarter.

Profits during the first quarter were $2.9 billion, according to a quarterly report, and revenue was 27.8 billion.

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3. Cisco Systems

“Together with our Internet of Things partner ecosystem, we help ensure that you migrate, implement, and manage connectivity of your previously unconnected assets effectively and more securely.” – Cisco’s LinkedIn company page

“Cisco predicts that by 2020, there could be 50 million devices connected to what it calls the Internet of Everything,” says Network World. “It’s hoping many of those devices will use the company’s networking equipment to communicate.”

Cisco is headquartered in San Jose, CA. It was founded in 1984, when husband and wife Len Bosack and Sandy Lerner, both computer scientists, wanted to email each other from different Stanford University buildings but couldn’t because the technology was lacking. Their invention was the multi-protocol router.

The company’s motto is “shape the future of the Internet by creating unprecedented value and opportunity for our customers, employees, investors, and ecosystem partners.”

Over the next five years, Cisco is forecasted to grow 7.5% annually, according to Nasdaq. In 2016, it is expected to grow 7%.

During fiscal year 2015, Cisco had sales totaling $49.2 billion, according to Argus, and revenue was $12 billion. Revenue during the second quarter of 2016 was $11.8 billion, according to a Cisco report, and was forecasted by Argus to be $12 billion.